Neon lights no longer reached this part of the street.
Only a broken streetlamp flickered above an abandoned training corner — a place forgotten by everyone except him.
A punching bag hung from a rusted metal frame.
Old.
Worn.
Perfect.
Yudoson stood in front of it, breathing heavily.
Then—
THUD.
His fist slammed into the bag.
Again.
THUD.
Again.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Each punch carried something heavier than anger.
Guilt.
Regret.
Memories he couldn’t escape.
His knuckles burned, but he didn’t stop.
The chain rattled violently as the bag swung back and forth.
His breathing grew rougher.
Faster.
Until—
He stepped forward and threw one final punch.
BOOM.
The impact echoed through the empty street.
The punching bag tore loose from the chain and flew several meters before crashing against the ground.
Silence followed.
Yudoson stood there, arm still extended.
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Shaking.
And then…
the voice returned.
Low.
Close.
Inside his head.
Decay.
— Bring me a child.
Yudoson froze.
His eyes widened in horror.
— No…
His voice trembled.
Tears began falling before he noticed.
— I can’t do that…
He grabbed his own head, fingers digging into his hair.
— I WON’T do that!
The darkness inside him pulsed, irritated.
But he resisted.
Always resisted.
His voice broke into quiet sobs.
— I still… I still have something human left…
He dropped to his knees.
Shoulders trembling.
Whispering to no one.
— I’m sorry, Hana…
—I couldn’t save you… not in time…
The street stayed silent.
For almost a full minute.
Then—
Soft footsteps.
Small ones.
Yudoson slowly lifted his head.
A boy stood a few meters away.
Helmet slightly oversized.
Curious eyes.
Completely out of place in a world like this.
Ollie.
He didn’t say anything at first.
Just walked closer, cautiously, observing.
Yudoson quickly wiped his face, sniffing, trying to regain composure.
Too late.
The kid had already seen.
Ollie tilted his head.
Pure innocence in his voice.
— Mister… are you crying out here all alone?
Yudoson’s expression hardened instantly.
A defensive mask snapping back into place.
He stood up slowly, turning slightly away.
— Stay out of this…
He sniffed once, voice rough.
— Leave me alone.
The streetlamp flickered above them.
One broken man.
One curious child.
And somewhere deep inside Yudoson…
Decay was still watching.
The noise of the city had already faded.
Yudoson sat on the rooftop of the house.
The night wind moved slowly between the buildings, carrying distant sounds of cars and occasional sirens. City lights flickered below him like artificial stars.
This was where he lived now.
Or rather…
where she lived.
And where he merely existed.
Hands resting on his knees, gaze lost in the horizon, he stayed silent.
Five minutes had passed since his conversation with Ollie.
Five minutes since someone had spoken to him… without fear.
Without judgment.
The feeling still echoed inside his head.
His phone vibrated softly in his hand.
The screen illuminated his tired face.
He stared at the keyboard for a few seconds, as if each word required effort.
Then he typed.
“Hey Sugus. Second interview session tomorrow at 8:30 PM.”
He reread the message.
Once.
Twice.
No emotion.
He sent it.
The confirmation appeared almost instantly.
Yudoson locked the phone and let out a long breath.
Dark smoke faintly formed behind his head… fading away moments later, as if it too was watching.
— You still think this is control…? Decay’s voice whispered inside his mind.
Yudoson closed his eyes.
He didn’t answer.
The city remained alive below.
But up there…
he felt completely alone.
He is Ollie boy